Four student-athletes with a wealth of success at the local and state levels have been named the recipients of the 12th annual Roy Fujimoto Athletic Scholarships.
Four student-athletes with a wealth of success at the local and state levels have been named the recipients of the 12th annual Roy Fujimoto Athletic Scholarships.
The scholarship winners, Kamehameha’s Evan Enriques and Casey Poe, Konawaena’s Evyn Yamaguchi and Keaau’s Charlie Belmes, will each be awarded a $1,500 stipend to be used for college.
The annual scholarship program, named after former Big Island Interscholastic Federation Executive Director Roy Fujimoto, who retired in 2004, is for senior student-athletes. It is sponsored by KTA Super Stores and the BIIF.
The recipients are chosen based on their athletic and academic achievement as well as community service. Twenty-two Big Island student-athletes applied for the 2014 scholarships.
BIIF Executive Director Lyle Crozier said the committee selected student-athletes “we believe are outstanding recipients for the scholarships.”
“The selection committee felt that Evan, Casey, Evyn and Charlie excelled in their athletic accomplishments as well as in their strong academic work and community service,” Crozier said.
Evan Enriques
The Kamehameha senior was a four-year standout in volleyball and led the Warriors to a pair of state Division I runner-up finishes in his sterling prep career. As a sophomore, Enriques led Kamehameha to the state D-I final against Punahou. He had a tournament-record 42 kills in a five-set loss to the Buffanblu. As a senior, Enriques led the Warriors to the BIIF title and a return trip to the state D-I finals against Punahou. The Oahu squad beat Kamehameha in four sets, despite 28 kills and 20 digs from Enriques.
Enriques was a three-time all-state player in volleyball, including the state Player of the Year as a sophomore. He was also a three-time BIIF Division I Player of the Year, and made several all-tournament teams during his prep career.
Enriques will attend Stanford University in the fall and play volleyball for the Cardinal. He will major in business economics.
Enriques had a cumulative 4.04 grade point average at Kamehameha and scored 1640 on his SAT. He was a two-year member of the National Honor Society and named to the school’s headmaster’s list four straight years.
He is the son of Guy and Julie Enriques of Pahala. Guy was the Kamehameha head coach during his son’s four-year volleyball career.
Casey Poe
The Kamehameha senior was a four-year standout in basketball and track and field. She led the Warriors’ basketball team to two state Division II titles and two state runner-up finishes; and three BIIF Division II titles. She was a four-time all-state selection, including the state tournament’s Most Outstanding Player in 2012 and 2013, and the BIIF’s East Hawaii Player of the Year in 2012 and 2013. She led Kamehameha to three BIIF D-II titles in four years.
During her four-year career, Poe was one of the most successful and most honored basketball players in BIIF history.
In track and field this year, Poe was a state champion in the triple jump to go along with BIIF champion in the triple jump and on the 400 relay team; runner-up in the 100 hurdles; and third in the 300 hurdles. As a junior, she was the BIIF champion in the 100 hurdles and on her school’s 400 relay.
Poe will attend Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash., in the fall on a basketball scholarship. She will major in English and creative writing.
Poe had a 3.62 cumulative GPA and scored 1450 on her SAT.
She is the daughter of Shannon and Tracy Poe of Hilo.
Evyn Yamaguchi
The Konawaena senior was a standout in baseball and football. In baseball, he was an All-BIIF Division II catcher for the Wildcats and led them to two straight trips to the state Division II tournament. Konawaena finished fifth in 2013, with Yamaguchi, a two-time team captain, leading the way.
In football, Yamaguchi, a two-year team captain, was an All-BIIF Division II linebacker. He helped the Wildcats claim three straight BIIF championships and trips to play in the state playoffs.
In 2014, Yamaguchi was named Konawaena’s Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year.
Yamaguchi will attend Eastern Arizona College in the fall on a baseball scholarship. He will major in fire science/paramedics.
Yamaguchi had a 3.68 GPA and scored 1390 on his SAT.
He is the son of Kevin and Emma Yamaguchi of Kealakekua.
Charlie Belmes
The Keaau senior was a team captain in basketball, cross-country and track and field. In basketball, he was a 3-point specialist and like in each sport he participated in, he led by example in his all-out play and team contributions.
Belmes was an all-around Keaau student who fared well in the classroom, school government, in athletics, and participated in various other school activities as well as community service projects. He was ranked first in his class of 199 for four straight years.
Belmes will attend the University of Hawaii at Manoa in the fall. He will major in civil engineering.
Belmes had a cumulative 4.04 GPA and scored 1490 on his SAT.
He is the son of Alberto and Teresita Belmes of Keaau.